Scott Greaves
04-01-2003, 3:09 PM
A week or so ago I was down to Craft Supplies (The Woodturners Catalog) in Provo Utah. I was there visiting Rex Burningham and Ben Williams, who I met through the Yahoo Penturners Group. I noticed something different in the display case, a new pen style I hadn't seen before. A big, beautiful, classy looking pen! I asked them about it, and they just kind of smiled, and said it will come out in their newest catalog in April. They call it the Gentleman's Pen, and they let me talk them out of a couple of the new kits to try out. I have had an interesting time getting this pen to completion, but last night I finally finished the first of these new kits.
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<B>The Gentleman's Pen</B>
From Craft Supplies USA, this kit is available in either a fountain pen or a rollerball. It comes in either their durable 10K gold plating, or in the Platinum Series finish. The hardware in this kit is all solid and very well made, which we would expect from Craft Supplies.
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A full size pen blank is needed to make this pen. The drill bits recommended by Craft Supplies are a 9/16" for the top barrel, and a 15/32" for the bottom barrel, which is just a touch larger than the Havana kit. Have a caution though - I found that the 9/16" bit was <I>too small!</I> I have since picked up a 37/64" bit that should take care of the problem. With the hole drilled with the 9/16" I had to take the Dremel to it and remove enough material so the tube would fit in. A 3/4" x 3/4" blank will just barely accommodate this kit.
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<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp03.jpg"></CENTER>
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Despite the overall size of this pen, the wood is actually very thin when you get to the final diameter. Dangerously thin. You will want to use a material that has good continuity and density. I used a blank of stabilized cross-cut spalted ash for this pen. If you don't have good glue coverage over the whole brass tube, you stand a good chance of a blow-out.
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<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp04.jpg"></CENTER>
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Turning the pen did not present any major problems. No tenon was required, and the barrel profile was pretty straight. Large pens are often some of the simplest to turn, but they also allow less opportunity for customization.
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<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp05.jpg"></CENTER>
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The assembly of the kit is pretty straight forward. Printed instructions were not available for this pen when I picked up these kits, but it was not hard to figure out. The one problem I had, and wouldn't have had if I wasn't in a hurry, is that bottom section of the pen goes together kind of backwards! I assumed the narrower part of the pen would be towards the writing tip, and I ended up seeing how easily this pen disassembled as payment for that assumption! The threads on both the body and the cap are a good quality dense plastic that should wear well.
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<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp06.jpg"></CENTER>
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My overall impression of the pen is that this is a winner! Craft Supplies has given us a pen that looks fantastic, has good heft and balance, and has a commanding presence. If you like to make and sell high-end pens, this is a kit you will want in your arsenal. These pens should be available from Craft Supplies USA by at least mid April. The price on the 10K Gold finish ranges from $7.99 to $13.99, while the Platinum kit is from $14.99 to $18.99 each. This kit sure makes one awesome looking pen!
Scott Greaves
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp01.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
<B>The Gentleman's Pen</B>
From Craft Supplies USA, this kit is available in either a fountain pen or a rollerball. It comes in either their durable 10K gold plating, or in the Platinum Series finish. The hardware in this kit is all solid and very well made, which we would expect from Craft Supplies.
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp02.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
A full size pen blank is needed to make this pen. The drill bits recommended by Craft Supplies are a 9/16" for the top barrel, and a 15/32" for the bottom barrel, which is just a touch larger than the Havana kit. Have a caution though - I found that the 9/16" bit was <I>too small!</I> I have since picked up a 37/64" bit that should take care of the problem. With the hole drilled with the 9/16" I had to take the Dremel to it and remove enough material so the tube would fit in. A 3/4" x 3/4" blank will just barely accommodate this kit.
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp03.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
Despite the overall size of this pen, the wood is actually very thin when you get to the final diameter. Dangerously thin. You will want to use a material that has good continuity and density. I used a blank of stabilized cross-cut spalted ash for this pen. If you don't have good glue coverage over the whole brass tube, you stand a good chance of a blow-out.
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp04.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
Turning the pen did not present any major problems. No tenon was required, and the barrel profile was pretty straight. Large pens are often some of the simplest to turn, but they also allow less opportunity for customization.
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp05.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
The assembly of the kit is pretty straight forward. Printed instructions were not available for this pen when I picked up these kits, but it was not hard to figure out. The one problem I had, and wouldn't have had if I wasn't in a hurry, is that bottom section of the pen goes together kind of backwards! I assumed the narrower part of the pen would be towards the writing tip, and I ended up seeing how easily this pen disassembled as payment for that assumption! The threads on both the body and the cap are a good quality dense plastic that should wear well.
<BR>
<CENTER><IMG SRC="http://myweb.cableone.net/swedg1/gp06.jpg"></CENTER>
<BR>
My overall impression of the pen is that this is a winner! Craft Supplies has given us a pen that looks fantastic, has good heft and balance, and has a commanding presence. If you like to make and sell high-end pens, this is a kit you will want in your arsenal. These pens should be available from Craft Supplies USA by at least mid April. The price on the 10K Gold finish ranges from $7.99 to $13.99, while the Platinum kit is from $14.99 to $18.99 each. This kit sure makes one awesome looking pen!
Scott Greaves